Game of the Month

Game of the Month: August 2004

The month of August saw some surprisingly great games, but when it came time to buckle down and name the winner, it wasn't hard to pick out the game that delivered across the board. This month, the coveted gold fedora happily goes to one of the longest-running and most successful game franchises of all time.

The venerable Madden franchise faces some tough competition this year. ESPN is not only a great game (it was our July Game of the Month), it's also got a lower price tag. But this year Madden is stellar. The Hit Stick totally gives the defensive game a new feel, adding a little bit of risk/reward to the game and giving you the opportunity to make big defensive plays.

You can also create your own defensive plays on the fly, and combined with better A.I., Madden 2005 just feels like better football. ESPN Football may be the deal of the year, but Madden is the best football game, hands-down -- and a shoe-in for our Game of the Month.

We waited years. We gawked at screens and drooled over trailers. We ate up previews and dissected interviews. But right until it was released, we weren't sure what we were in for with DOOM 3. Turns out it was worth the wait, as DOOM 3 is one of the best shooters we've played this year.

Of course, there's the obvious technological brilliance, as John Carmack and co. created a creepy world of lights and shadows beyond anything seen in video games before. But perhaps more surprising was the fact that there was an actual story and pace to the game, dripping in atmosphere. As you progress through the Martian base of the Union Aerospace Corporation, you slowly unravel the events of the weeks prior to your arrival, while constantly looking over your shoulder and peering into shadows, leery of what might be lurking there. The gameplay is pretty straightforward, but there are so many fun and interesting events scattered throughout the game that you'll rarely get bored throughout the 20 hours it'll take you to finish. id Software stated many times that the goal with DOOM 3 was to scare players -- and the game does exactly that.

Nintendo's second stab at environmentally friendly trash hunting is a resounding success. Captain Olimar returns with a new, slightly dimwitted partner named Louie for some Pikmin-plucking action that improves on the original title in practically every conceivable way.

Fun head-to-head and co-op two-player gaming is now part of the package, as is a longer, more interesting and challenging single-player campaign. New critters, new puzzles, and even two new types of Pikmin await you. It's fun from start to finish and is definitely one of the better games released for the GameCube this year. Miss it at your own peril!